I wasn't sure if I was going to plant another fig tree (although I really wanted to), and as I was casually browsing through the nursery last week, this gorgeous Celeste fig tree practically leaped out and tackled me. OK, I said, I'll take you home :)
Since I went through all the work last year of having the hole dug and filling it with bags and bags of compost and dirt, logic would dictate that I plant the tree in the same spot. So I pulled up the dead fig tree, redug the hole, added 2 bags of compost and planted the tree. It was about 1/10th of the work I put in last year!
But the tree is in the ground and it looks great.
I put a wire cage around it because some time the deer do still jump the big fence and my tender little fig tree would be a delicacy for them. Not gonna happen if I can prevent it. I put a little sprinkler around it and water it pretty regularly...about an hour every other day. The temperatures have been pretty warm lately so I need to ensure the tree stays well watered.
Anyway, I'm super excited about this new addition to my Texas hill country garden. I intend to take very good care of this tree throughout what looks to be a long hot summer. The tree will likely not produce any figs this year, but if I can get it well established and protect it through the winter, I've got a good (fair?) chance of getting figs next year. Maybe a little wishful thinking on my part, but I'm going to do my best to make it happen. The rest is up to Mother Nature :)
After 3 years I now have 4 fig trees and still no figs. I planted a Brown Turkey and a Blackjack fig tree the first year we moved in. The BT was about the size your Celeste is. The BJ was a fig stick about 8" tall. The BT doubled in size the first year and then the second winter it froze and I thought it was dead. But no, it grew back from the roots and last summer grew to about 2' tall. The first year the BJ got nibbled on by rabbits which slowed it down... I put it in a cage and by the end of summer last year it was also almost 2' tall. This winter? Sure enough they both died down to the ground again and are starting all over again. sigh.
ReplyDeleteThe other two I have I planted last fall. I don't know what variety they are. A friend knew someone in her neighborhood who was cutting back their fig. She brought me some of the sticks. I stuck them in potting soil and after almost a year they had actually rooted. The exciting news it that they survived the winter with NO damage. One had marks on the branches that looked like they had split open. But they leafed out nicely in spite of it. I have hopes that since they are from a tree that has been known to thrive in our climate, these will make it.
Where are you in the Texas Hill Country? What's your big city? I am fairly new to my North Texas garden (a suburb of Dallas) after living in Houston for 30 years. Winters are definitely different here.
I don't have room for any more trees but would like to figure out how to grow a Fig Newton bush! I would definitely make room for that! :o)
ReplyDeleteI love eating figs off the tree! I hope this fig gives you many years of wonderful figs! Can't wait to see what type of fig recipes you come up with!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful little tree! :) I am fortunate enough that my next door neighbor has a couple of huge fig trees that produce the largest, sweetest figs I have ever tasted and she shares with me! I made multiple batches of super delicious preserves last year and they, in turn, make fabulous home-made fig Newtons. Yum! Good luck with your baby.
ReplyDeleteHi Seren Dippity...Sounds like you do not have good luck with fig trees :/ I'm hoping this one will yield some fruit in a year or two. Keeping my fingers crossed :) I'm just North of San Antonio in the hill country. We get a little colder here in the hills but I love it!
ReplyDeleteHaHaHa, TS :) My daughter-in-law has a great recipe for Fig Newtons! If my tree produces enough figs (wishful thinking maybe), I might try my hand at those!
Thanks, Kelsey...I do to! It's a gamble, but one I'm willing to take. There is almost nothing tastier than a fresh fig! Good to hear form you :)
You lucky girl, ChristyK! How nice that your neighbor shares :) Aren't they just delicious, though? Fresh figs are indeed one of the foods of the Gods! I bet your fig preserves were delicious! I hope I get enough figs to try my hand at those! Thank you for stopping by :)
I love the hope we hold onto as gardeners! My husband loves fig newtons...he would probably be up for a fig tree if we had the space!
ReplyDeleteHey Cat! I *am* optimistic about this fig tree...and yes, hope is a huge part of gardening. Without it, there would be no garden :) My hope is for this tree to produce enough figs to make fig newtons! Wouldn't that be nice?
ReplyDeleteDiane I live in Astoria Queens in New york City and we grow figs all over the place almost everyone has them,I myself have 3 different kinds and they all do well. I dont know about your weather in the Texas hill country but I am willing to bet it is not as cold as the Northeast.You need to wrap them after they lose all there leaves,It does not have to be elaborate just some black tar paper or a blue tarp. just tie the leaves together then wrap the tree leave the top open and put an empty flower pot on top,thats it. you will be rewarded with abundant and delicious figs.Good luck.
ReplyDeleteHi, Diane,
ReplyDeleteI live north of you in Comfort,TX, what nursery did you find your Celeste in, please?
thanks,
Lucy
Hi Lucy, I bought the fig tree at a local nursery in Boerne, Hill Country African Violet, on Interstate 10. If you get on IH10 heading East, just on the other side of Boerne, you'll see it off the highway. It's a big place and I'm sure they have lots of them. Hope this helps!
DeleteDiane :)
Hi Diane,
ReplyDeleteI see this entry is from 2011... I'm curious; how did your Celeste fig tree fair last winter? We put in two brown turkey fig trees in December of 2012, they leafed out and seemed to grow fine all summer, but seemed to have died back to the roots as we only have leaves at the base of the main trunk this spring. We thought maybe we didn't water it enough, but apparently a lot people seem to have this same experience... I guess I'll prune the dead bits back and make plans for protecting them from the cold next winter...!
Hi Marion...we don't own the house in the hills anymore so I'm not sure how the fig tree faired last winter. But I do know that in past years, it has died back to the roots only to shoot up new growth in the spring. My only advice would be to do everything possible to protect your fig tree from freezing cold temperatures and after that, hope for the best!
Delete